Friday, 27 June 1913--ACCUSED OF BURNING WIFE--Mexico, Mo, June 21--John Nicholson was arrested at Vandalia, Mo, to-day on the charge of murder following the coroner's investigation into the death of Mrs. Nicholson and her adopted son, Howard, who were fatally burned in their home, Friday night. Nicholson was brought to the Mexico jail to-night by sheriff Barnett. Nicholson refuses to make any statement beyond saying his wife was burned when a coal oil lamp she had left burning in the room exploded. The fire took place shortly before midnight Friday night. The screams of the woman and child aroused the neighborhood. Jesse McNeal, yardmaster for the Mississippi glass Company at Vandalia, was the first to arrive. McNeal ran into the blazing room and found Nicholson carrying his wife into an adjoining room. The boy was found standing in the middle of the floor, his clothes blazing, by Mrs. Homer Griffith, a sister of Mrs. Nicholson, who lives near by. The boy, it is said, received fatal burns while trying to save his foster mother. Nicholson was not injured. His bed was in an adjoining room. The fire was extinguished by McNeal, a negro named Ed Johnson and Ed Butts, a neighbor. Nicholson told neighbors the lamp had exploded. Bessie, an adopted daughter, was not at home. At the inquest this afternoon, conducted by coroner Strode, Dr. W. W. Bland, a physician of Vandalia, testified that Mrs. Nicholson had said: "John did it. He threw gasoline or coal oil on the bed and told me "I am going to burn you up," and he lighted a match and set it to the bed." Dr. Bland's testimony was corroborated by Doctors Hollingsworth and Terrill. Witnesses who were at the dying woman's bedside swore she asserted a $1000 insurance had been taken out on her life, and she had asked that none of the money go to her husband. She wanted Howard to receive it in event the boy survived, she said, and if they both died she asked that the money go to her brother, Homer Griffith. Before she died, Howard asked the physicians if his mother would die, the child prayed that she might be spared and that he might live. The verdict of the coroner's jury was, "We find that Mrs. John Nicholson and Howard Nicholson came to their deaths in a fire, and we find from the evidence presented that said fire was lighted by the hand of John Nicholson." Coroner Strode said to-night the coal oil lamp, which Johnson said had exploded, was found on the floor with the burner unscrewed from the glass bowl. Friday, 27 June 1913--SLUGGED AT RENICK--A young Moberly man named Alderson, who for some time past has been keeping company with a Renick girl, was slugged last night as he left the girl's home. Two young Renick men are accused by Alderson with having been his assailants, and Constable Lute Hamilton is here today to get a warrant for their arrest. Jealousy is believed to have inspired the attack on Alderson. He was knocked down and severely beaten. to prevent further trouble, Constable Hamilton went with him to the train at Renick last night--Moberly Monitor. Friday, 27 June 1913--DR. J. A. MILLER ARRESTED--An indictment was filed this afternoon charging Dr. J. A. Miller with murder in the second degree. The indictment was based on a true bill found by the grand jury charging that he, by the use of instruments and drugs in a case of obstetrics, produced the death of Susan Stewart. The grand jury made a rigid investigation into the charge and brought the true bill against Dr. Miller, only after a number of witnesses had been examined and the members of the jury were convinced that he was guilty. Prosecuting Attorney E. C. Anderson said this afternoon: "It is a clear case and conviction will surely follow." The indictment charges that Dr. Miller on the second day of April used an instrument on Mrs. Stewart for the purpose of disposing of an unborn child and that he gave to the patient certain drugs to assist in the perfection of the operation and that she lingered until the 17th day of April and lingering did die as a result of the operation. Dr. Miller was arrested this afternoon and appeared in court. He sent for Attorney F. G. Harris, N. T. Gentry and W. H. Sapp but it is not known yet whether he has retained all or any of them or not. The bond was placed at $2500 on the recommendation of the prosecuting attorney--Columbia Tribune. Dr. Miller formerly lived in Moberly before gong to the university city about eight or ten years ago--Moberly Democrat. Friday, 27 June 1913--JUVENILE COURT OPEN--By virtue of the statute creating it the juvenile court of Randolph county is in operation today. Judge Louis Ratliff of the probate court will also be judge of the juvenile court. The juvenile court has charge of all neglected or delinquent children under the age of 17 years excepting those who have been convicted of a capital offense. When such jurisdiction is obtained over a child it shall last until the child reaches its majority. The statute minutely defines the words neglected and delinquent and under the delinquent list is included nearly all the petty misdemeanors and crimes, such as jumping trains, remaining away from home at night, profane language in public places and similar offenses. A probation officer has charge of the children and assumes the responsibility of seeing that their faults are corrected and that they are properly cared for. the operation of the new law will be watched with considerable interest--Moberly Monitor, June 23. Friday, 27 June 1913--The U. S. Survey boat Beaver, with a crew of 14 men, was caught in a storm on the Mississippi river near New Madrid, Mo, on Sunday, and nine of the crew were drowned when the boat turned over. Friday, 27 June 1913--Harrisonville, which came to the front a week or so ago with an axe murder, a woman having killed her husband and child with an axe while they slept, is in the lime light again with another murder, Jesse O'Bannon, aged 14, having shot and killed his father, aged 57. The boy says he fired only after his father, who was drinking, had threatened to kill the whole family and started after him with a shotgun. The coroner's jury held the boy blameless. Friday, 27 June 1913--MORGAN D. GRIFFITH--Morgan D. Griffith was born March 6, 1854, at Merthyr, Tidville, South Wales, and died at his home near Higbee, Mo, on June 18, 1913, aged 59 years, 3 months and 12 days. He came to America with his parents at the age of 9 years, locating at Ironton, Ohio, and in 1874 was united in marriage to Mary Ann Lewis, of Cincinnati. To this union were born seven children, all of whom, with the mother, except a daughter who died in infancy, survive, viz: David D, and Paul D, of Illinois; Morgan D, Richard D, Cora D Edwards and Ollie S. D. Ridgway all of this place, He is also survived by nine grandchildren, and two brothers and sisters--Thos. and David Griffith of Huntsville, Mrs. Hannah Beddow of Huntsville and Mrs. Rachael Updyke of Pennsylvania. Mr. Griffith moved with his family to Huntsville 37 years ago where he resided for 14 years, when he moved to the vicinity of Higbee where he had since resided. Last October he was stricken with a severe pain in his left cheek bone which rapidly grew worse until he could no longer bear the pain when an operation was performed on January 1, and from which he never fully recovered. On February 11th he was stricken with paralysis and grew gradually weaker. Despite all that medical aid and a loving wife and fond children could do, he passed peacefully to rest at 7:15 p.m. June 18. Mr. Griffith was a devout member of the Christian church, and he lived his religion in his everyday life. He was always to be found on the side of right, and especially in the cause of temperance, in the battles for which he was always at the front and in the thickest of the fray. After the funeral services at the church Saturday by Eld. Chas. Swift, the body was taken in charge by the Masonic fraternity, of which he had been an honored member for thirty-three years, and laid to rest in the city cemetery with the full honors of the order. (poem followed). Friday, 27 June 1913--AN APPRECIATED LETTER--J. E. Rucker of this place received the following letter from his nephew, John F. Rucker, of St. Louis, under date of June 21, and request us to publish same: "My Dear Uncle and Aunt:--I saw in the Moberly Monitor Minnie sent me that you celebrated on June 10, your 50th anniversary. How I should have liked to be there, and hugged you both, and congratulated you too. You two of all my kin feel nearer and dearer to me, outside of my own dear family, for you were good and kind to a poor fatherless boy once on a time, and he has never forgotten it and never will. I hope you both may live many, many years and each enjoy each other and your children and grandchildren." Friday, 27 June 1913--Born, on the 20th, to Thos. Evans and wife, a son. Friday, 27 June 1913--Born, on the 22nd, to Paul Naylor and wife, a son. Friday, 27 June 1913--Born, on the 25th, to Carl Harlow and wife, a son. Friday, 27 June 1913--Mrs. William Young and children of Springfield, Ill, are the guests of her parents, G. T. Rees and wife, and other relatives. Friday, 27 June 1913--AT THE AIRDOME--Tonight's programme: "Hide and Seek" and "The Land Salesman."--K. B. "The Mute Witness."--American. "The Woman Who Knew."--Reliance. Saturday night's programme: "With Lee in Virginia."--A K-B in two parts. This is one of the greatest pictures of the Civil War being shown in the country. Of course there is a love story connected with it. "The Half Orphans."--Majestic. Plenty of room and fresh air. Only five and ten cents. Friday, 27 June 1913--Mrs. Bennett Wilson, while assisting her husband with his hay crop last Saturday, was quite painfully hurt. She was riding a sulky rake when the horse she was driving became frightened and wheeled suddenly, turning the rake over on her. Fortunately the horse was caught by Mr.. Wilson in time to prevent its running. A doctor was hastily called who found Mrs. Wilson had sustained only severe bruises. Friday, 27 June 1913--Born on the 18th, to Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Herbertson, of McKeysport, Pa, a son. Mrs. Herbertson will be best remembered as Miss Alice Egly. Friday, 27 June 1913--Andrew Ewing who had charge of a railroad station in Nebraska for several years, and who left that point last April to accept a similar position at Vandalia, is here this week on the way back to resume his old place in Nebraska. He is accompanied by his wife and little son, who have been visiting her father, Tobe Williams, in Howard county. Friday, 27 June 1913--J. J. Whitmire received a card Tuesday from his son, Doney, who has been in the West for a number of years, and from whom he had not heard for three years. The card was written from Yellowstone Park. Doney wrote that he had a good position and was doing well. Friday, 27 June 1913--Robert Williams and Aubrey Herron went to Kansas City Thursday of last week where they applied for license as embalmers and took the necessary examination before the state board, then in session. It will be some time before they know whether they passed or not. Each was a pupil under the late F. H. James, to whom Mr. Williams, was assistant for several years. Friday, 27 June 1913--Friday of last week Mrs. Walton Burton received in honor of her 22nd birthday, a very original present-- a pink, heart-shaped birthday cake, decorated with 22 candles. A card with the names of twenty-two of her young lady friends in Kansas City stated that they had all been present at the cake baking and that the cake had been taken from the oven at 22 minutes past 3 p.m. and sent to her at 22 minutes of 2 p.m. the following day. Friday, 27 June 1913--Because the women complained the ripe fruit dropped on the walks and discolored their skirts, the authorities of Manhattan, Kansas, have passed an ordinance that all mulberry trees be grubbed out and burned. We take it that Manhattan is very short on small boys. Such a law would never be necessary in Higbee. Kathy Bowlin Additions, corrections and comments welcome.